Procedural Reminder:Delegates are reminded that at the PACMUN Conference, they are not expected to arrive with complete resolutions. Delegates are expected to prepare a policy statement that can be read in one minute and three solid operative clauses with which to caucus and kick-off debates. Resolutions are expected to emerge from the debates in the committees. TOPIC OIL DRILLING AND ECOLOGY CHAIRS JIYEON RYU and MARTYNA DUDEK Oil drilling is a highlyprofitable industry that plays a significant role in the economy of numerous nations. Latin American countries depend ontheir oil resources for their economy. It provides local employment opportunities for hundreds of citizens, brings energy security, and contributes to creating better infrastructure. It is a highly specialized commerce that has become the largest business in the 21st century. Oil industries are present in countries such as Colombia, Brazil, Guatemala, Ecuador, Mexico, Venezuela and Peru. Ecuador’s oil production has been increasing over the years, now reaching 400,000 barrels of crude oil a day, which is more than it needs for domestic consumption; thus it is one of the country’s leading exports. Despite all the positive features of oil drilling, it is a dirty industry. It destroys the environment through drilling, oil spillage and greenhouse gases. In addition, it provokes numerous lawsuits and costs. Pollution caused by oil drilling is at the heart of many debates. Ecuador has decided to leave vast oil reserves untouched. The Ecuadorian accord has the worth of about $7.2 billion. Instead, they are leaving areas protected in national parks. Ecuador’s efforts to protect its national parks, where an estimated 846 million barrels of crude oil lie under it, have been the object of the United Nations’ attention for over three decades. The UN Development Program (UNDP) and Ecuador agreed in 2009 to set up a trust fund to protect a World Biosphere Reserve in Ecuador’s Amazon region. Ecuador set a good model for saving the planet. “It is not often that a government chooses sustainable development over easy money,” said UN Secretary-General BanKi-moon. Ecuador is willing to cooperate with the UN to save the planet. The United Nations will show how global financial agreements can protect biodiversity and help avoid pollution. The UN wishes to move on towards achieving the MillenniumDevelopment Goals (MDG’s). “Our relationship with Earth is one of mutual interdependence,” quoted General Assembly President Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser. QUESTIONS TOCONSIDER: - What other countries or regions could benefit from an accord similar to the one between Ecuador and the UN? - How can the UN take action globally to prevent drilling, oil spillage and greenhouse gases? - How may your country effected by the descending rates of the exportation of oil production from Ecuador? - What is your country’s position on oil and oil drilling? - Does your country have any experience of UN involvement or government action related to oil, drilling, oil spillage and greenhouse gases? HELPFUL LINKS: United Nations Development Program http://www.undp.org UN and Oil drilling www.survivalinternational.org/news/4916 Ecuadorian-UN accord that puts ecology over oil drilling hailed as model for world http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=39734 http://ecocrap.wordpress.com/2011/09/24/ecuadorian-un-accord-that-puts-ecology-over-oil-drilling-hailed-as-model-for-world/ Ecuador oil exports: http://www1.american.edu/TED/ecuador.htm
ECOSOC Committee Background Statement Procedural Reminder:Delegates are reminded that at the PACMUN Conference, they are not expected to arrive with complete resolutions. Delegates are expected to prepare a policy statement that can be read in one minute and three solid operative clauses with which to caucus and kick-off debates. Resolutions are expected to emerge from the debates in the committees. TOPIC HARNESSING ENERGY RESOURCES IN LATIN AMERICACHAIRS CHLOE OLSEN and JIYEON RYU Since the Millennium summit in 2000, the United Nations have been focusing on the challenge of sustainable and equitable development. It has been observed that environmental degradation impacts the poor. Many least developed countries (LDC) in Latin America have an abundant source of renewable or green energy. Green energy is produced in a manner that has less negative impact on the environment. Is it possible to harness energy in Latin American countries in a sustainable way? Could developing sustainable energy have a positive impact on social issues andthe economy? Using solar energy, wind power and biomass (biological material derived from living, or recently living organisms) reduces the world’s reliance on fossil fuels such as oil and natural gas. Not only does this improve the environment, it can also potentially create sustainable jobs.
Scientists have begun determining ways to extract energy from coal and other fossil fuels, avoiding harmful side effects. However this process takes copious experimental fees and time. The production fees may leave a large impact on a country’s debt (Shepley 2012). In countries such as the US, citizens are given tax incentives that encourage the use of renewable energy sources. The US still faces steep costs related to these incentives that leave the government shouldering much of the cost and contributing to the national debt. Although this is the case in the US, other LDCs may not be able to support similar incentives (Peelle). The UN development program is helping countries such as China, India, Brazil, Argentina, Costa Rica begin to understand the importance of advancing their renewable energy markets. As of 2010, an estimated 3 million households are receiving power from solar systems (Nexus Energy). These systems have many positive effects on a nation; it can reduce poverty by creating jobs as well as improve people’s health and quality of life by creating a constant, dependable energy source. This was emphasized during the UN World Summit in Johannesburg on Sustainable Development in 2002 and will be at the heart of the discussions taking place in the UN Conference on Sustainable Development to be held in June 2012 in Rio de Janeiro. Organizations such as the Latin America Wind Energy Association (LAWEA), a non-profit association, fund clean, renewable, stable and unlimited sources of wind energy in Latin America. Educating citizens on the basics of industrial wind power is needed in order for people to understand its importance.
ECOSOCCommittee Background Statement
Procedural Reminder:Delegates are reminded that at the PACMUN Conference, they are not expected to arrive with complete resolutions. Delegates are expected to prepare a policy statement that can be read in one minute and three solid operative clauses with which to caucus and kick-off debates. Resolutions are expected to emerge from the debates in the committees.
TOPIC OIL DRILLING AND ECOLOGY
CHAIRS JIYEON RYU and MARTYNA DUDEK
Oil drilling is a highl
Ecuador’s oil production has been increasing over the years, now reaching 400,000 barrels of crude oil a day, which is more than it needs for domestic consumption; thus it is one of the country’s leading exports.
Despite all the positive features of oil drilling, it is a dirty industry. It destroys the environment through drilling, oil spillage and greenhouse gases. In addition, it provokes numerous lawsuits and costs.
Pollution caused by oil drilling is at the heart of many debates. Ecuador has decided to leave vast oil reserves untouched. The Ecuadorian accord has the worth of about $7.2 billion. Instead, they are leaving areas protected in national parks. Ecuador’s efforts to protect its national parks, where an estimated 846 million barrels of crude oil lie under it, have been the object of the United Nations’ attention for over three decades.
The UN Development Program (UNDP) and Ecuador agreed in 2009 to set up a trust fund to protect a World Biosphere Reserve in Ecuador’s Amazon region. Ecuador set a good model for saving the planet. “It is not often that a
government chooses sustainable development over easy money,” said UN Secretary-General BanKi-moon. Ecuador is willing to cooperate with the UN to save the planet. The United Nations will show how global financial agreements can protect biodiversity and help avoid pollution. The UN wishes to move on towards achieving the MillenniumDevelopment Goals (MDG’s). “Our relationship with Earth is one of mutual interdependence,” quoted General Assembly President Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser.
QUESTIONS TOCONSIDER:
- What other countries or regions could benefit from an accord similar to the one between Ecuador and the UN?
- How can the UN take action globally to prevent drilling, oil spillage and greenhouse gases?
- How may your country effected by the descending rates of the exportation of oil production from Ecuador?
- What is your country’s position on oil and oil drilling?
- Does your country have any experience of UN involvement or government action related to oil, drilling, oil spillage and greenhouse gases?
HELPFUL LINKS:
United Nations Development Program
http://www.undp.org
UN and Oil drilling
www.survivalinternational.org/news/4916
Ecuadorian-UN accord that puts ecology over oil drilling hailed as model for world
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=39734
http://ecocrap.wordpress.com/2011/09/24/ecuadorian-un-accord-that-puts-ecology-over-oil-drilling-hailed-as-model-for-world/
Ecuador oil exports:
http://www1.american.edu/TED/ecuador.htm
ECOSOC Committee Background Statement
Procedural Reminder:Delegates are reminded that at the PACMUN Conference, they are not expected to arrive with complete resolutions. Delegates are expected to prepare a policy statement that can be read in one minute and three solid operative clauses with which to caucus and kick-off debates. Resolutions are expected to emerge from the debates in the committees.
TOPIC HARNESSING ENERGY RESOURCES IN LATIN AMERICACHAIRS CHLOE OLSEN and JIYEON RYU
Since the Millennium summit in 2000, the United Nations have been focusing on the challenge of sustainable and equitable development.
It has been observed that environmental degradation impacts the poor. Many least developed countries (LDC) in Latin America have an abundant source of renewable or green energy. Green energy is produced in a manner that has less negative impact on the environment. Is it possible to harness energy in Latin American countries in a sustainable way? Could developing sustainable energy have a positive impact on social issues andthe economy?
Using solar energy, wind power and biomass (biological material derived from living, or recently living organisms) reduces the world’s reliance on fossil fuels such as oil and natural gas. Not only does this improve the environment, it can also potentially create sustainable jobs.
Scientists have begun determining ways to extract energy from coal and other fossil fuels, avoiding harmful side effects. However this process takes copious experimental fees and time. The production fees may leave a large impact on a country’s debt (Shepley 2012).
In countries such as the US, citizens are given tax incentives that encourage the use of renewable energy sources. The US still faces steep costs related to these incentives that leave the government shouldering much of the cost and contributing to the national debt. Although this is the case in the US, other LDCs may not be able to support similar incentives (Peelle).
The UN development program is helping countries such as China, India, Brazil, Argentina, Costa Rica begin to understand the importance of advancing their renewable energy markets. As of 2010, an estimated 3 million households are receiving power from solar systems (Nexus Energy). These systems have many positive effects on a nation; it can reduce poverty by creating jobs as well as improve people’s health and quality of life by creating a constant, dependable energy source. This was emphasized during the UN World Summit in Johannesburg on Sustainable Development in 2002 and will be at the heart of the discussions taking place in the UN Conference on Sustainable Development to be held in June 2012 in Rio de Janeiro.
Organizations such as the Latin America Wind Energy Association (LAWEA), a non-profit association, fund clean, renewable, stable and unlimited sources of wind energy in Latin America. Educating citizens on the basics of industrial wind power is needed in order for people to understand its importance.
ISSUES FACING THIS COMMITTEE:
Currently only 23% of Latin American energy supply comes from renewable sources. It is predicted that the cost of electricity will raise 25% by 2013. Many economies must create jobs. Renewable energy is expensive and takes time to set up.
QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER:
- Is it possible to harness energy in Latin American countries in a sustainable way?
- What are the advantages/disadvantages of producing green energy?
- Could developing sustainable energy have a positive impact on social issues and an economy?
- How can ECOSOC develop policy to encourage green energy?
- How is your country currently producing the majority of its energy?
- What percentage of potential renewable energy does your country possess?
- What type of job opportunities would be created as a result of the production of green energy in your country?
- What resolution does ECOSOC need to present to prevent financial issues linked to providing green energy?
-How can ECOSOC promote an ‘ever green’ energy revolution and pave the way for the UN Conference on Sustainable Development in June 2012 in Rio de Janeiro?
HELPFUL LINKS:
The United Nations Development program:
http://www.undp.org
__http://www.beta.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/ourwork/environmentandenergy/overview.html__
__http://hdr.undp.org/en/reports/global/hdr2011/summary/__
www.unido.org/
Renewable Energy Sources in Latin America and the Caribbean:
www.renewableenergyworld.com/.../renewables-c.
__http://www.eclac.org/publicaciones/xml/9/14839/Lcl2132i.pdf__
__http://www.geni.org/globalenergy/research/renewable-energy-potential-of-latin-america/Potential%20of%20Renewables%20in%20Latin%20America-edited-12-16%20_Letter_.pdf__
Latin America Energy Statistics:
__http://earthtrends.wri.org/pdf_library/country_profiles/ene_cou_170.pdf__
Renewable Energy Sources:
__http://www.geni.org/globalenergy/library/renewable-energy-resources/world/latin-america/index.shtml__
https://www.cleanenergyexperts.com/about-us/dr-beau-peelle/
__http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-green-energy.htm__
Articles:
__http://www.makingitmagazine.net/?p=2921. Solar__
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2010/09/renewables-continue-remarkable-growth
http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/story/2012/01/30/sci-un-green-energy.html